Results 4,301-4,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers involves the acquisition of additional land. The progression of the project, from site acquisition and initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multiannual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The position regarding the ICT Advisory Service operating from the regional Education Centres is that following the Value for Money Review of the ICT Support Service for Schools undertaken by my Department, the ICT Advisor posts have not been renewed. Accordingly, there is no ICT Advisor post attached to Mayo Education Centre. This decision reflects the view that each school must plan and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently wrote to City of Galway VEC instructing them to proceed with negotiations regarding the acquisition of a site for the school in question. I am advised that the VEC are progressing the matter.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The School to which the Deputy refers applied for a large scale extension project. The long term accommodation needs of the school have been determined as an 8 classroom school. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multiannual School Building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, it is my Department's intention to provide the school in question with a new building. In this regard, agreement has been reached to provide the new building on a V.E.C. owned site. As the Deputy will also be aware, last week, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Office of Public Works (OPW) which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally had been requested to source a greenfield site for the school to which the Deputy refers. On foot of advertising, no proposals were received for a greenfield site in the area concerned. The OPW was then requested by my Department to look into the possibility of building a...

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is aware of, and supports, the Government's Smarter Travel Policy, launched by the Minister for Transport on 5 February, which recognises the valuable role that workplace travel planning can play in making commuting travel patterns more sustainable. The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department operates a Travel Pass Scheme which greatly enhances the benefits to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in the...

Written Answers — Clár Tógála Scoileanna: Clár Tógála Scoileanna (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Mar is eol, gan dabht, don Teachta, tá sé ar intinn ag mo Roinnse foirgneamh nua a chur ar fáil don scoil atá i gceist. I dtaca leis seo, táthar tar éis teacht ar chomhaontú go soláthrófar an foirgneamh nua ar shuíomh a bhaineann leis an CGO. Mar is eol chomh maith don Teachta, gan dabht, d'fhógair mé sonraí an tseachtain seo caite faoi 43 thionscadail mhóra caipitil a bheidh...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Details of the schools in Co. Louth renting temporary accommodation are given in the attached tabular statement. The average annual rental cost per unit is €13,160. From the information provided the Deputy will see that there were a total of 77 prefabricated units rented by 31 schools. The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 to 511, inclusive, 520 to 524, inclusive, and 531 together. I wish to advise the deputies that all primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). All primary schools were given these additional teaching...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to advise that the school to which the Deputy refers has been included in my recent announcement of building projects that will progress to construction in 2009. Officials of my Department will be in contact with the school authorities to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable on this project.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is guided by a Commission on School Accommodation (CSA) Report produced in 2004 on the "Criteria and Procedures for establishing and maintaining provision through the medium of Irish in second level schools". The report recommends that for an Irish Medium school to be recognised, it must have: An initial first year projected enrolment of 30 pupils; A projected average first year...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am please to inform the Deputy that the application from the school in question for emergency works funding in respect of windows and roof has been approved. The school management has been informed of the position.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the declaration by the United Nations of 2009 as the year of International Human Rights Learning. Human rights and active citizenship are issues which are fundamental principles which are at the heart of the curriculum at all levels. In the primary curriculum, Human Rights is reflected in Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), which plays an important role in developing an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: In addition to the maintenance grant schemes, other supports are available for students who may be marginally over the income limits. The Student Assistance Fund is designed to assist students who, having commenced a third-level course, experience financial hardship that may render them unable to continue their third-level studies. Applications for funding should be made by the...